Playbook Touchscreen - Interference from Gym Equipment

So I took my new Playbook to the gym and placed it against the display on the elliptical (this also happened on the stationary bike) and the touch screen was flaky - not scrolling properly and being very sluggish. This went away when I picked up the device. It seemed that laying it against the LED display of the equipment resulted in some sort of interference that messed with the Playbook. This is not new - I have a Kobo Vox and had the exact same experience on this equipment. Interestingly, my iPad 2 does not display this type of behaviour (better shielding?).

Has anybody ever experienced this? I ordered a case for the Playbook and am hoping it provides a little more shielding. Thanks!

I have experienced this. I think it was on a recumbent bike. Works fine on the elliptical and treadmill though.

Yeah - mine was on an upright bike and elliptical (both with the same type of display by the same company).

I've always had this problem. If the PB's capacitive layer doesn't seem to function correctly when the device isn't being electrically grounded. Try placing your PB on a bed (a good insulator) and just use the screen with one finger and it doesn't work well.

Originally Posted by tharrison4815

I've always had this problem. If the PB's capacitive layer doesn't seem to function correctly when the device isn't being electrically grounded. Try placing your PB on a bed (a good insulator) and just use the screen with one finger and it doesn't work well.

That's weird. What would the difference be between it sitting on the bike and in my hands while I am sitting on the bike? I hadn't thought about it being a grounding issue - figured it was EMI-related. Thanks for the info!

Stop pedaling so fast!!!
I wonder if some kind of shield could be devised or would it be insulation? ...c'mon geniuses

I use mine on a plastic document holder and it works fine, so grounding doesnt seem to be the issue - I am thinking EMI from the equipment. OR maybe it is grounding through the equipment instead of your bod? Have you tried insulating it from the holder?

I am getting a leather case later this week and will see if that works. I will try the plastic holder tomorrow. I think it is interesting that this occurs with the Vox as well as the Playbook - two almost identically designed tablet chassis. I wonder whether they are from the same OEM. I couldn't find any reference to this problem when I googled it (though the search terms hit a bunch of irrelevant sites) so presumed it is not shared by many other devices. As I mentioned, my iOS devices don't exhibit the problem. I'll try a little shielding tomorrow and see how it goes.

I go to Goodlife here in Canada.
I have used the playbook against the treadmill's, bikes, and elliptical with no problems. (with a case and without a case.)

Not sure what you people are experiencing but I hope its not too much of a problem :)

Try putting a sheet of aluminium foil between the PB and the treadmill. Or if you have a case, line the inside back of the case with foil.

Good idea with the aluminum.

I suspect that Goodlife has better shielded equipment than the old equipment at the Sportsplex in my town. :) I tell you - it's not easy to be struggling with the touch screen while on an elliptical!

Update - went to the gym today and used my iPad 2's smart cover as a shield. No good - the digitizer was wonky. Interestingly, this only occurred on the Star Trac equipment (for example, here is the upright bike that is not properly shielded E-UB Upright : Star Trac ). Another elliptical at the gym (a non-star trac) does not exhibit this problem. I think it is definitely an interaction between the components on the display of the exercise equipment and the type of display on the Playbook (which appears to be shared by some other devices).

EDIT: After posting this I did a google search for Star Trac Interference - came up with this http://www.treadmilltips.com/star-tr...by-unisen.html

LOL - it's a treadmill but I suspect he is referring to the same problem I am seeing - referring to the treadmill as a "spread spectrum radio jammer".